Dust in the Wind

This story continues from Peter Parker: Spider-Man #16…

In the Bowery, a group of homeless are trying to keep warm in the cold evening.[1] They suddenly see a pile of sand swirling around and flee when it turns into the humanoid form of the Sandman. Unfortunately, he can’t keep his physical form intact. He has been like this since Venom at a chunk of his body while they were both trying to kill Spider-Man. Although Venom did this, the Sandman blames Mysterio for what happened and vows to get even.[2]

Meanwhile, Peter Parker is putting on his suit in his new apartment, which is much smaller than the penthouse he moved out of on Fifth Avenue. That’s when Glory Grant comes knocking at his door to give him the details about the job interview she lined up for him. She says that her friend runs a small research and development company and that she suggested Peter for the job that opened up. However, she asks him not to flake out on this job either. Peter promises her that he won’t and she leaves him to it so she can return to her job at the Daily Bugle.[3] Peter realizes that Glory is right and hates the fact that he is living in uncertain times again since Mary Jane’s alleged death. Now he can barely afford bus fare. He decides to walk to the interview instead of swinging there as Spider-Man. As he walks to the interview, Peter thinks about all of his problems recently and just how hard life has become for him. As he passes an apartment building a woman comes running out saying he baby needs help. Peter tries to tell her he can’t stop because he has an interview but the woman pulls him inside the ramshackle building. Taken up to her apartment, Peter discovers that the woman’s baby got its head suck between the bars of its crib. Peter quickly bends the bars, freeing the baby and the woman thanks him.

On his way out police pull up to do a raid on the building. As Peter’s spider-sense begins going off he spots a woman climbing out a nearby window. Before he can figure out what’s going on a police officer violently detains him. Peter tries to explain why he was in the building but his explanations are ignored. Next thing he knows, Peter Parker is being put in the back of a squad car. The officers driving the car are then called over to a situation on 28th and Park Avenue. There, they are all shocked to see the Sandman going on a rampage. Peter really doesn’t need this happening right now but realizes that the cops are out of their league. Once the two officers leave him unattended, Peter snaps his handcuffs and forces his way out of the cop car. As the Sandman whips his body in a sandstorm, Peter quickly pulls the officers out of the maelstrom, but this wrecks his suit and breaks his watch. With no other choice, Peter slips away to change into Spider-Man.

He follows Sandman into a building and is shocked to find a version of New York that has been laid to waste waiting on the other side. Seeing the wall-crawler he tries to attack him while also explaining that he is after Mysterio. That’s when Electro and Mysterio arrive on the scene to kill them both.[4] Realizing the New York wasteland is only an illusion, Spider-Man shoots a web line up to the ceiling of the warehouse and pulls part of it down causing the hologram to disappear. While Mysterio and Electro are dodging the falling debris, Spider-Man carries Sandman outside just as the police arrive. Spider-Man decides to leave, telling them to call the Avengers and the Fantastic Four.

Soon Peter Parker arrives at his job interview and discovers that he’s actually early. However, the owner of the company tells Peter that he is overqualified for the job. Peter feels dejected after not getting the job and is desperate to find work, although he grimaces when he sees a help wanted sign looking for dishwashers at a local diner.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Sandman, Mysterio, Electro, Glory Grant

Continuity Notes

1. The original twin towers of the World Trade Center are depicted as being part of the New York City skyline. This should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616. The towers were destroyed in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, and the new Freedom Tower has since been built in its place.

2. Venom ate a chunk of the Sandman in Peter Parker: Spider-Man #16.

3. There is a lot to unpack here all at once so let’s get into the details:

   • Peter Parker recently moved into this apartment in Peter Parker: Spider-Man #16. Prior to this, he was living in a penthouse apartment on 5th Avenue since Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #1 that was paid for with money Mary Jane made modeling.

   • Mary Jane seemingly died in a plane crash in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #13. She’s not really dead though as we’ll see in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #29.

   • After Mary Jane’s death, her agent embezzled all her money and skipped town after not paying the mortgage or the bills like he said he would lead to Peter getting evicted in Amazing Spier-Man (vol. 2) #16.

   • Up until now, Peter Parker had got a job at TriCorp in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #1 on top of his usual job at the Daily Bugle as a freelance photographer. He lost the TriCorp job last issue as well on top of that J. Jonah Jameson suddenly decided to no longer accept photos of Spider-Man. Basically we’re in the middle of another “it sucks to be Peter Parker” story arc.

   • Sidebar: Mary Jane is referred to here as Peter Parker’s wife. However, years later, their marriage is erased from existence by Mephisto in Amazing Spider-Man #545. As such they should be considered a common-law couple here.

4. Spider-Man asks Mysterio if he can fake his death again. He is referring to the events of Daredevil (vol. 2) #7 where Quentin Beck, the original Mysterio committed suicide. This Mysterio is not Quentin Beck but Danny Burkhart, as revealed in Spider-Man: Mysterio Manifesto #1-3. He has been leading people to believe that he is Quentin Beck since he took on the Mysterio identity again in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #12.